CRICKET SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 15

CRICKET SEASON

provincial toukney SOME PROMISING MATERIAL IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARD Some promising material was seen during the Auckland Cricket Association's provincial tourney which was concluded 'last. Saturday. It was unfortunate that bad weather caused the loss of three days' play in a competition which gave promise of being keen, and jn which tho cricket showed an improvement on the usual standard provided by country teams. At a gathering of tho various team managers the opinion was unanimous that the tournor was of great value in bringing the town and country players together, and providing material for the Plunket Shield selectors to view. Another suggestion, that tho venue should be changed each year, seems a sound one. The tourney would do a lot for cricket in the centre in which it was held. , The question of wickets would be one which would cause some anxiety in some of the centres, however, and p.t the present time Poverty Bay appears to be the only province which could provide the necessary number. The- display of some of the players during the tourney must have attracted the attention of the selection committee, and it is to bo hoped that these players are not lost sight of when any trial games are held later. The display of C. "Walters, North Shore's opening batsman, in scoring the only century, advances his claims still further as opening bat for the forthcoming shield piatch against Wellington at Kden Park.

The successful North Shore fast bowler, J. B. Simpson, took six wickets for 31 runs and five for GS on Eden Park wickets on two different days under different conditions. Again at New Plymouth last Saturday he returned the good figures of 12 for 6S in two innings. These figures must give him great prospects for representative honours. Two players who impressed in the Suburban Association's team were W. Robertsliaw and A. Robinson. The latter gave a great display against good bowling in scoring 9S not out, and showed a variety of strokes combined .Tvith clever placing. Robertshaw was responsible for a steady exhibition in ecoring 42 against the bowling ol bimpson, Felts and Andrews. Scored at a time when his side was distinctly on the defensive it was a sound effort. N. .Vipond of the North Auckland side was ji very consistent bowler, his tricky deliveries gaining him eleven wickets lor 72 runs in three innings. His batting was also well up to standard. For South Auckland J. Everest scored a nice 60 and R. Clough proved a free and attractive batsman. '1 he whole side was capable of registering a sound total and was probably the .best balanced team in the tourney. GREAT PARTNERSHIP PRESENTATIONS TO BATSMEN In recognition of their brilliant partnership in the Auckland-Otago Plunket Shield match, which established a ■world's record for the third wicket, P. E. Whitelaw and W. Carson were each presented with one of the balls used duririg their innings. The presentation was made by Mr. A. H. Allan, president of the Otago Cricket Association. Carson's score of 290 is the highest ever made on Carisbrook ground and is the second best made in Plunket Shield cricket. It. C. Blunt, formerly of Otago and now a member of Sir Julian Calm's eleven, holds the record for the highest score with 338 not out for Otago against Canterbury in the 1932-33 season.